Walsh. — On the Effect of Deer on the Bush. 435 



Art. LX. — The Effect of Deer on the New Zealand Bush: 

 A Plea for the Protection of our Forest Beserves. 



By the Kev. P. Walsh. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, 22nd Aiigust, 1S92.] 



With the exception of that of the domestic animals, most of 

 the attempts at acclimatisation that have been made in this 

 country have been unfortunate. The small birds are a severe 

 tax on the farmer : the rabbits threaten to break up the 

 estates of the large landholders, who are said to have cele- 

 brated their introduction with a champagne lunch : while the 

 stoats and weasels, from which so much was expected, have 

 not only failed to accomplish the object desired, but are 

 already, in the destruction of native birds, and in their de- 

 predations in the fowl-yard, proving themselves an intolerable 

 nuisance. 



Still, though the mistake is now generally admitted, the 

 attempt in these cases was somewhat justified by the hope, 

 delusive though it soon proved to be, of some tangible benefit 

 that would more than compensate for any attendant evil. 

 This justification, however, can hardly be allowed in the case 

 of deer, unless their introduction be accompanied by certain 

 restrictions that have not hitherto been observed. For, 

 although there may be few forms of enjoyment to equal that 

 which would be found in stalking the grand game amongst 

 our forest-clad mountains, still those in a position to enjoy 

 the sport would necessarily form but a fraction of our popula- 

 tion, while even the keenest sportsman would hardly be con- 

 tent to purchase his own gratification by the destruction of 

 that forest which is the glory of his country and the birth- 

 right of the community at large. 



To those who are unacquainted with the New Zealand 

 bush it may seem strange to associate the idea of destruction 

 with a few head of these innocent-looking creatures. They 

 are perhaps familiar with the idea of an Old Country deer- 

 park, where the animals wander harmlessly among the sylvan 

 glades with no other effect than that of giving life and beauty 

 to the landscape; and they would be surprised to learn that 

 the presence of the deer would prove more injurious to a rata 

 or a kauri than to an elm or an oak. And, indeed, if they 

 made the comparison at all, their conclusion would probably 

 be in favour of the giant growth and the massive density of 

 our own forest. The two conditions, however, are entirely 

 different, and the comparison is not so easily disposed of. 

 The European forest or deer-park, it must be recollected, has 



